Storage filing box



June 11, 1940. J. J. CARROLL STORAGE FILING BOX Filed oci. 27, 195s SOUS.

UNITED STATES FHQE STORAGE FILING BOX Jerome J. Carroll, Chicago, Ill. Application October 2,7, 1938, Serial No. 237,299

The invention relates to collapsible boxes and more particularly to boxes formed from heavy sheet material such as, for example, corrugated cardboard or strawboard, adapted principally, for the storage of `transfer files. Transfer or storage boxes of the character reH ferred to necessarily must be sufficiently stiff and durable to withstand rough handling and to support heavy` loads. Preferably, they embody means to protect their contents from dirt. At the same` time they must be inexpensive and easily collapsed for storage or shipment. Also, they preferably consist of a minimum number of parts to facilitate setting the box up for use and should provide a smooth interior bottom surface to facilitate thepacking of papers or the like therein.

A smooth exterior surface also is very essential to facilitate eflicient stacking.

It is therefore, `an object of the invention to provide an improved, inexpensive, strong, rigid and dustproof collapsible iilingbox.y

Another` object is to provide a collapsed box of the character described for economical shipment or storage when not in use, and `011e that can be easily and quickly set up,` by inexperienced per- The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will appear hereinafter, will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specication, in which reference will'be made to the `accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved transfer or storage filing box, showing the top in open position. l

. Fig. 2- is a transverse sectional View taken on `line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showingthe box closed in full lines, and open in dotted lines. l Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the box closed.

Fig. 4 is a view of one of the blanks.

Fig. 5 is a view of the other blank.

The improved box II, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, preferably is made from two blanks I2 and I3, best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively. Preferably, they are straw- `board or corrugated cardboard or other suitable stiff durable sheet material. 4The blank I2 is substantially `rectangular `and is suitably scored transversely as at I4, I5, I3 and Il to deline a flap portion IB, an inside bottom portion I9, a`

rear wall portion 2l, a top portion 22 and a tongue portion 23.

The other blank I3 also is substantially rectan- `gular and is suitably scored longitudinally along line 24 and also transversely, along lines 26 and 2l between said `score line 2t and the adjacent edge 25. The blank is cut through along lines 28 and 29 in alignment, respectively, with lateral score lines 26 and 2l. `The edge 23 of the blank I3 has laterally projecting flap portions 3l, one outwardly longitudinally of each scoreline 2li and 2l, which portions are partly defined by score lines 32 aligned with the edge 25. Cutting and scoring the blank I3 as above noted, defines two end wall portions 33, a front wall portion 34, an outer bottom portion 35 and end Wall bottom flap portions 36.

To complete the collapsed box, the end wall portions 33 are bent, along their respective score lines 23 and 27, to about right angles to the intermediate iront wall portion 34. The rear wall portion 2l, of blank I2, is positioned with its end edges in abutment with the complemental edges of the end wall portions 33. Adhesive strips 3l then are secured to the outside faces of the rear wall portion 2l and of the end wall portions 33 to join the corners.

To set up the collapsed box for use, as best shown inFigs. l, 2 and 3, said joined blanks l2 and I3, are bent along their remaining score lines and the inside bottom portion I9 is bent toward and spans the distance from the rear wall portion to the front wall portion 34. The ap portion I8, on said bottom portion I 3, is inserted upwardly into a position substantially parallel to and in side the front Wall portion 34, thus providing a double thickness front Wall having its two thicknesses preferably arranged spaced part. The end Wall bottom flap portions 33 then are bent over toward each other beneath the bottom portion t9 and the outside bottom portion 33 then is bent rearwardly against the said flaps to position the free longitudinal edge of said outside bottom portion 35 against the bottom of the rear wall portion 2|. The free longitudinal margin of the outside bottom portion then is joined securely to the lower margin of the rear wall portion VZI by anadhesive strip 38.

The box now is set up for use and, because of the double bottom and double front wall structure, it is materially strengthened and consequently can withstand heavy loads. The double bottomwall construction also provides a smooth interior bottomsurface to facilitate insertion of the papers and a smooth exterior bottom sur-l face which facilitates stacking. i

Although the inwardly extending end wall bottom flap portions 33 terminate a substantial distance `from each other, as illustrated, it is apparent that they may be of sufficient length to meet.` However, from a manufacturing viewpoint, the end wall bottoni flap portions will, in most instances, have a length equal to the width of the bottom portion 35 which is comple-mental to said iiap portions as best illustrated in Fig. 5.

Prior to closing the top 22, the end wall top iiap portions 3E are bent inwardly toward each other. The top 22 then is bent down along score line iii over flap portions 3l and the integral tonguei is bent and inserted between tbe inner and outer front wall portions i8 and 2id, respectively.

It should be noted that the upper edge of the inner front wall or flap portion i8, is substantially iiush with the upper edge of the outer front wall portion 3l! so that, when closed, the outside face of the top 22 is elevated from the upper edge of the outer front wall portion, a distance approximating the thickness of the material. This ar rangement is desirable to avoid interference with the edge of the outer iront wall portion by a box placed thereon in stacking. The top 22 is adequately reinforced by the underlying edge of the inner front wall portion i8 and the underlying end wall top flap portions 3l.

If desired, the Various edges of the walls and iiaps likely to become frayed during use may be suitably protected by reinforcing strips of binding tape 3Q, or the like, and suitable pliable tabs M and i2 may be attached to facilitate removal of the box from a stack and opening of the top 22.

Although the box is shown and described as being constructed of two separate blankssuitably joined by adhesive strips 3l, it is apparent that a single blank may be used. In such instance the two blanks illustrated, preferably would be integral along one of the co-incident rear and end wall edges now joined by one of the adhesive strips :il and only one adhesive strip 3l would be required to join the other'co-incident rear and end wall edges. However,v the two piece blank is preferred because of lower material cost due to the smaller stock size of the material required to make the blanks.

Although a preferred construction has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and specically described herein, it is not desired that the invention be limited to the precise disclosure but that it embrace such structures as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A. collapsible box having single rear and end walls'a :Front wall, a bottoni portion joined to the lower edge of the rear wall spanning the distance from the rear wall to the front wall to pro.- vide an inner bottom wall, a flap on said bottom wall extending upwardly into the box parallel to and closely adjacent the vfront wall, bottom iiaps on each end wall underlying said inner bottom wall, a bottom portion joined to theflower edge of the front wall spanning the distance from. the lirontv wall to the rear wall and underlying the end wall bottom flaps, means for securing the last-named iottom portion in the aforesaid underlying relation upper flaps on the end walls extending inwardly toward 'each other, a top joined at its rear edgeto the upper edge of the rear vv-all to span the distance from the rear wall to the front wall, anda tongue on the iront edge of said top insertible between the front wall and the4 bottom wall iiap adjacent thereto.

2. A collapsible box having single rear and end walls, a. front wall, a vbottom vportion joined to the lower edge of the rear wall spanning the distance from the rear wall to the front wall. to provide an inner bottom wall, a iiap on said bottom Wall extending upwardly into the box closely ad jacent the iront wall, bottom lapson each end wall underlying said inner bottom wall, a bottorn portion joined to the lower edge of the front wall spanning the distance from the front wall to the rear wall and underlying the end wall bottom iaps, means for securing the last-named bot tom portion in the aforesaid underlying relation upper flaps on the end walls extending in wardly toward each other, and a top joined at its rear edge to the upper edge of the rear wall to span the distance from the rear wall to the front wall.`

3. A collapsible box having single rear and end walls, a front wall, a bottom portionv joined to the lower edge of the rear wall spanning the distance from the rear wall to the front wall to provide an inner bottom wall, la flap on said bottom wall extending upwardly nto the box closelyadjacentthe front wall, bottom ilaps on each end wall underlying the inner bottoni wall, a bottornportion joined to the lower edge of the front wall spanning the distance from the front wall to the rear wall and underlying the end wall bottom flaps, an adhesive strip overlapping and joining the co-incident edges of the outside bottom wall and the rear wall, upper fla-ps on the end Walls extending inwardly toward each other, a top joined at its rear edge to the upper edge of the rea-r wall to span the distance from the rear wall to the front wall, and a tongue on the front edge of said top insertible between the front wall and the bottom wall ap.

4. A collapsible box formed of two blanks joined to constitute an integral structure, said structure comprising, a blank cut and scored to denne only the top, rear, inside bottom and inside front wall portions of said box, and a second blank cut and scored to define only the ends, outside front and outside bottom wal1 portins, and top and bottoni end wall flap portions of said box, said joined blanks being constructed and arranged so as to form a box having single rear and end walls, and double front and bottom walls.

5. A collapsible box having single rear and end walls, a front wall, and inner and outer bottom walls, said inner bottom wall being integral with the rear wall, means securing the outer bottom v wall in underlying relation with reference to the inner bottom wall, a ap on said inner bottom wall to provide an inner front wall of substantially the saine height as and spaced inwardly from the front wall, a top hingedly joined along one edge to the rear wall, a tongue on the free edge of said top insertible between said front walls, and end wall ilaps insertible beneath said top, all integral.

6. A collapsible'box having single rear and end walls, a front wall, and inner and outer bottom walls integral respectively with said rear and front walls, means securing the outer bottom wall in underlying relation with reference to the inner bottom wall', a flap on the free edge of the inner bottom wall of a width substantially equal to the height of the front wall arranged substantially parallel to but spaced inwardly from said front wall, a top integral with said rear wall, and a tongue on said top insertible between said front wall and said bottom wall liep.

'7. A collapsible box having single rear and end walls, a, front wall, said frontI and end walls being integral, adhesive` strips joining said end 'z5 walls and said rear wall, an outer bottom wall integral with the front wall, an adhesive strip joining its free edge to the rear wall, an inner bottom wall integral with said i'ear wall, a flap on the free edge of said inner bottom Wall arranged inwardly of and substantially parallel to and adjacent the front wall, a top integral with said rear Wall, and a tongue on said top insert- `ible between the front wall and said bottom wall flap.

8. A collapsible box having single rear and end Walls, a front wall, said front and end Walls being integral, adhesive strips joining said en and flaps on the end Walls insertible beneath said 10 top.

JEROME J. CARROLL. 

